On Sat May 16th, we were in Fayetteville for Tresea Birthday. We drove up on Fri night but we got there in the late evening. David and Tresea live on a lake (picture shown above) and so that night we took advantage of it. Jason, Maddie and I stayed out on the pier even after dark and fished (Jonas was already asleep in his bed). I, Lena Adams, at the age of 29, caught MY FIRST FISH!!! I was the only one that caught anything that night. I mean it wasn't really anything special but hey it was my first one. I think I may have been fishing a few times and I do mean few, in my life but I was never really proactively fishing. I really don't like it. I think it's cruel and boring. I think it's cruel to the bait that you are using, that is if it's live bait and I think it's cruel to the fish that you are catching. I don't mind it so much if you catching to cook it but Jason and his dad mostly catch and throw back. But now that I'm older and a mom, you know taking up fishing as a hobby doesn't sound so bad after all...ahhhhh, peace and quiet!! SOUNDS GREAT!!! Well here are some pictures of our little fishies:Me and Maddie with my first fish ever!!

Jason and Maddie making fishy faces with MY little Brim fish.

Jason, the next morning(Sat), sitting out on the pier fishing and studying. And here's what he caught:
Another Brim and he also caught a turtle but I didn't get a picture of that, wish I had.

David grilled out. We had some hamburgers and some cake for Tresea's bday. Then after that, David and Jason took the John boat out on the lake for a while and this is what Jason caught.
We were all hoping to be able to jump in the pool but it just didn't get hot enough to warm up that water but we all just sat around it and admired it. Here's a picture of David and Maddie by the pool.Here's a picture of David doing what he does best...putting someone else to work.
LOL!! J\K David

Me and MJ's toes testing out the water. Yeah, a little to chilly for anymore than this.

Well here are some pictures that I took of different things but I was mostly just trying out my new camera, which I love.


How cute are these pics of my doggie and my baby girl.



This is another reason of why I love my camera, these never would have turned out with my old one.

Here's some of Jonas playing with Tresea's Coca-Cola Truck and Bucket. He was having a blast, making the Vroom-Vroom sounds and putting things in the bucket and carrying it around. He's a cutie!!




Saturday was also Jason's step-sister's first prom night. Here's a picture of Morgan and her date, Bryant. She looked so very pretty!!!
Then on Sunday we went to church and drove back home to G'ville. That was pretty much that weekend.

Petting Zoo

On Friday, May 15th the kids and I went to a different Strawberry patch than we normally go. It was our Play Group Activity. So a few kids from church and their Mom's came to pick some strawberries. Since we had already picked some this season, I wasn't much into picking them, plus all the good ones were gone. We pick one some pint bucket full and that was it. At this farm they too had a small petting zoo. The kids enjoyed that much more than the strawberry picking. Here's what they had:

Maddie just loved that she could get this close to them and pet them.
She hugged and kissed this baby.

Maddie feeding the Momma Goat some hay.


Here is Maddie(above) and Jonas (below) petting and feeding the goats hay.



The kids checking out the bunnies. Jonas just giggled when the bunnies would hop around.


Some pictures of the beautiful peacock that was there. I was so excited that I actually caught a pic of him with his feathers all fanned out. There's just something amazing about peacocks, well I think there is anyway.


I've got to add this little story. Well Maddie was just capativated with the goats and so I was showing Jonas the peacock. Maddie was standing right behind me and all of a sudden she let out a loud sqeaul, followed by crying and tears. I asked her what was wrong but she just can't crying but when she finally calmed down a little she told me that the mommy goat ate her hair. LOL I'm sorry but I couldn't help it. Yes, I laughed. The momma goat would put her front legs up on the gate and could lean out some and so Maddie was standing there and she grabbed her bangs and started to chew. I think it scared Maddie more than it really hurt. We both laughed about it once she had gotten over it.

The FIRST Father/Son Campout

A few weeks ago, our ward held a father/son campout. Though Jonas is young and not able to really participate in many activities, Jason and Jonas did go. It was held at an LDS Camping Ground in Eagles Nest, NC. It's an hour away, right in the middle of Greenville and Fayetteville. They got there around dinner time on Friday night and then left after breakfast on Sat. They didn't do much of anything except mingle but it was enough to say that they both now had been on a Father/Son campout, but there will be many of those to attend in the years to come. But I'm glad that my boys got to attend even for a few hours. Here are a few pictures that Jason took of Jonas sleeping in the tent and then eating breakfast the next morning.




**And Chelsea, it's a banana!!! OK

A lot of catching up to do...

Mother's Day

Yes, I'm starting all the way back to Mother's Day. Well actually the Thursday before Mother's Day...Maddie's Pre-School Class had a little party for the Mom's. We had muffins and received some gifts. Here is a picture of Maddie with those items:


As you see on her right is a purplish-blue and pink painting that she did all on her own. She chose her colors and the painting tool which she is very proud to say that she got to use a paint roller. This was done on a real painting canvas so it can be framed and kept for years. Next is the item that she is holding, which is probably my fav out of the three. It's obviously a painted flower pot but this is no ordinary flower pot!! This one is OHHH SOOOO SPECIAL!!! This one holds something so sweet and dear that when the teacher handed it to me, I got a little teary-eyed. Each little flower, ladybug, frog, and butterfly was made with Madison's own little fingerprint. And at the top it says I <3 you (the heart is also her fingerprints). I'm usually not a sappy kinda person but I tell ya, getting your FIRST EVER "Mommy I made this just for you" gift will make the best of 'em cry. I will treasure it forever. And as I told my mother-in-law...it will be a sad day when that thing breaks, cuz I know it will...ONE DAY but no matter what even if it shatters and I have to glue it a hundred times and you can't even tell what it is anymore, I will never get rid of it.
The other gift to Maddie's left is a cute little card that has a poem inside called Handprints and as you can tell the front of the card is a flower made from Maddie's handprint with a few more ladybugs and a butterfly with her finger. This card is also very touching, another tear-jerker.
I think the reason that the two gifts with the hand and finger prints are so special to me is b/c when Madison was born, at that hospital, they didn't do the hand and foot prints and we didn't realize that until she was older and we never did them ourselves which now I regretted but this was a special surprise.
Here are some up close pictures of the flower pot:



Now on to real Mother's Day...
We went to see Jason's mom on Saturday night and stayed there. We went to church in our old ward in Hope Mills, where his Dad and Tresea and Grandma Joyce go as well. On Mother's Day, they always giveout something. Chocolate, a flower or something. This year it was a Mum, which normally I don't like but this was a long living flower and it was purple and actually kinda pretty but I didn't really appreciate it until I got my gift from Jason and the kids which was a NEW CAMERA!!! I have been wanting a new camera and well complaining about the old one but I didn't really think that I'd get one. BUT I DID!!!! I love it!!! It's great!!! I'm super camera happy again. I also got a new bracelet from Sharon though it was "suppose" to be from the kids it's very pretty. I like it, it's very "mom-ish" which I'm in that stage of life now. It's pink leather multi straps with a silver heart charm that says MOM. Here's a picture: Thank You, Sharon!!!

So after church and gift exchanges, we headed off to the cookout that Carl and Sharon held for the whole family on both sides. Oma came too, oh yeah Oma is what the kids call Sharon's mom instead of Great Grandma b/c she's German(100%). Well that was pretty much it for Mother's Day but it was a good one. Best one so far I think!!! Oh and Jason, Thank you again, sweetie for the camera. I really do love it and I love you!!! XOXOXOXO

And I love my babies and I'm so glad to be their Mommy!!

Who do you see?

I did this a few months ago but I thought I'd do it again since I did find a picture of Jason at 3 and I just did the Jason/Jonas comparison. So here is Jason and Maddie and I at the age of 3 or around that. So who does Maddie look like?

Father like Son...I really don't have to say anything else, do I? The first picture is Jason at a year old and the bottom picture is Jason at 18 months and then Jonas' year old photo in the middle. There's just no denying it, Jonas is Jason's Mini-Me, but maybe just a little cuter!!!

I remember these from my childhood and I just thought that summed up my life. Does anyone else out there feel the same? Only thing is, is that these women just hop into the bath without a second thought...that doesn't happen here at my house unless it's between the hours of 10pm and 5am and after my long day with the kids, at 10pm, I JUST WANT TO GO TO BED!!!! I mean Geez, I can't even go to the bathroom by myself. :o)

CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!!!!

I could just eat him up!!!!

Well a few weeks ago I took Jonas to get his 1 year photos done (even though it was 2 months late but better late than never.) I'll be honest, he wasn't his usual bubbly self but I was happy with these pictures that I ended up purchasing. In this first picture, his little smile just makes me melt. It looks even better when you see the actual picture. All I can say is that is MY SWEET BABY BOY!!!


This one is not as cute as the first one but I liked it b/c of the background and him holding the one.

Here's a collage and in the center photo is his profile. Bottom left is a cute one of him giggling and bottom right is of him reading his book.

Funny things from my 2 yr old (Part 4)

Madison said this just the other day.

"Mommy, can you do me a favor?"
Me: " I guess so. What do you need?" (With a surprised grin on my face)
"Can you get my Aladdin book for me? I'll give you a piece of my cheese!"
I just laughed but I did go and get the book for her. Then when I handed it to her, she said "Here mom, here's your cheese." I told her that I didn't want it but she was persistent but we finally came to an agreement. She would eat my piece of cheese for me and I could just have a kiss. That was a darn good deal.

Madison had taken a bath right after lunch b/c she had eaten some watermelon and gotten all sticky. When she got out it was time for her nap so I told her to get some clothes on and she comes out with her long sleeve flannel monkey jammies on (she loves these jammies). I told her that she'd get hot but she said that she was wet and cold so I let it go. After about 30 mins, she was lying in her bed reading some books and she says, "Mommy, I'm hot" so I told her she could get up and change her clothes and she said, " No that's ok, I just sleep in my nakey." Oh boy did I laugh. I did let her sleep with her shirt off but she was wearing pants.

I play this game with the kids when Jonas has a smelly diaper. I say, "Shoo Wee Somebody stinks and their name is..." Of course it's Jonas that stinks but I like to play around with Maddie and I say, Somebody stinks and their name is Maddie. And usually Maddie will say, "No, it's Jonas." Well today she said, "I don't think so, It's not me, it's Jony!!!" (that's what Maddie calls Jonas) She said it with such sass. It was funny!!!

My Fickle Pickle

I thought I'd post some words that Jonas does actually say. He has, in the last week or so, started to say some new words. But he is such a fickle pickle that you can't get him to say it. He only says it when he wants to, that goes for any sounds that he makes too.

He'll say: dog (and make the sound), car (and sound), throw (when he throws a ball), Arrrrrrgh (pirate sound), drink, juice, numm numm (means food or I'm hungry), makes cow and monkey sounds.

He's also getting a lot better with his walking, and he's a lot faster. He's almost at a run, therefore, I'm a lot busier.

Funny things from my 2 yr old (Part 3)

*Lately, Madison has been pronouncing words with a country accent. I don't know where she has picked this up b/c neither Jason or I talk like this. The strange thing is that she just started this out of nowhere in the last 2 weeks or so where as before she was pronouncing these words correctly. Some of the words are: house (hayouse), that (theyet), snack (snayek). I'm going to be honest...THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!! Jason says it's cute. It's NOT!!! We aren't country. We are from the south but we are not country. There's a difference. I've been trying to correct here whenever I hear it but it doesn't seem to click yet. So if she asks for a "snayek" she's not getting it until she asks nicely for a snack and not for a "snayek".

*At dinner, earlier in the week, we had corn as one of our vegetables. As we are all sitting at the table eating, I notice Maddie digging her finger in her nose. So of course I told her, "Maddie get your finger out of your nose. Do you need a tissue?" And she said "yes, I have corn in my nose." "You have WHAT in your nose?" as I grab her head and lean it back to look up in nose. "I don't see anything. Do you really have corn in your nose?" "Uh-Huh!!!" So then I grab a tissue and she blows, and we couldn't believe it...a piece of corn flew out of her nose. I mean, I know that's what she told us but still, even after that, we couldn't believe that she actually did it. But I know that all kids do it at some point so it was just our time. After we explained that noses are only made for stuff to come out and that you can get hurt if you put stuff in your nose, we laughed. We laughed in amazement.

* Some words that she pronounces funny: Ballerina(Ballalina), Dandelion(Daddy Lion), Carolina (Carowina)she says "I can't know" instead of I don't know or I don't remember. There are more but I can't remember them right now.


*Maddie is a girly-girl. She loves PINK!!! So for her birthday these are some things that she has asked for. A pink baby owl, pink car, a pink computer and the latest request, a pink monkey. And sure, you are probably thinking that I could find these things at wal-mart or ebay or something but not just any of these will do, she wants REAL ones. A real owl, a real car, a real computer and a real monkey, all for herself. So do you see why I'm hoping and praying that she will not get her hands on a credit card until she's at least 30 years old. Yeah, I think we are going to be in trouble before to long.

Splish, Splash

Here is a clip with the kids playing in the pool the first time this spring/summer. There's nothing special in it but I thought I'd add it on here just in case anyone did want to watch it.


Here's a few pictures too and I have to tell you the story of why and how Jonas became diaper-less.

Here's the kids just playing together.
Maddie sunbathing with one of her best friends, Boomer.
Jonas having fun just splashing his hands in the water.

And now for the story... Ok so as you saw in the other pics, Joey just had a regular diaper on and Maddie kept asking me to put Jonas in the pool but he didn't really want in the pool b/c it was cold and I didn't want to put him in with that diaper on. So when Maddie would ask for me to put Jonas in, I would say No he can't b/c of his diaper. Then she asked me to just take his diaper off and I said no to that as well. About 30 mins later the mail lady came and brought a package and so I had to go to the door. Then when I come back, this is what I saw...

A naked little boy!!!! Madison had decided to take it off herself. It didn't seem to bother Jonas. So then after that I put a swim diaper on him and they played together in the pool for a little while.

Please don't call DSS on me...

LOL!!! I just had to post these pictures of the kids in the dog bed together. They climbed in there all by themselves. Jonas had been trying for weeks to climb up in it and well I'm sure with these two (monkey see, monkey do, monkey gets in trouble too), he just followed her every step. I will admit that I did lock the cage just for a few mintues while I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pictures. So please don't call DSS on me. I love my kids and I want to keep them. (well sometimes, LOL)
Here in this first picture, you can see how proud Maddie is with that smile on her face.
Jonas is trying to figure out how to get out of the situation he got himself into.

But then he decided to play peek-a-boo with me. That Cutie!!!

You know, life would be so boring without kids!!! More relaxing but still boring.

Farmer in the Dell

Well first things first. I love my little boy in a hat. I've always been a fan of a man that looks good in a baseball hat. Luckily my little boy takes after his daddy. I like it when Jason wears a hat. I think he's hot!!! Well my little buddy is a cute in a hat too. He likes to wear them too.

So about these pictures. Well the kids were playing outside and I had given them some Capri-Suns to drink and Jonas likes to play with the straws and he was being so cute and funny, I had to get some pictures. He looked like a little farmer with the straw and the hat, all he was missing were the overalls.

Strawberries for the pickin'

Jason was off last Friday, so we took the kids to the Strawberry Patch. This is the same farm we went to last year to pick strawberries and also to get a pumpkin in Oct. When I took them in Oct. we were disappointed to see that the petting zoo was temporary closed but thankfully it was open on Friday. So here are some pictures of us picking.

Maddie did a really good job this year. Last year she didn't really understand that we only wanted the nice, big, red ones but this year she had a good eye. Even Jonas found some good ones. LOL!!!

We started out at the beginning of a row and of course moved on down as we picked but Jonas wasn't interested in following us so he just stayed at the start of the row. We kept our eye on him but at one moment he was just playing in the dirt then the next he had a strawberry in each hand. And of course he had to be all messy, squeezing it as he ate it.
We were all tickled to see him doing this even some of the other follow pickers. When Jason asked Jonas if it was good, he nodded yes and wanted to share.(picture #2) I'm so glad I thought to dress the kids in red/drk. pink.

Here's a few pictures of all of us at the patch though not very good. (You know there are a lot more pictures taken now with two kids but a lot less worth showing. Almost never can we get a picture with all 4 of us looking and smiling at the same moment. But we still try.)


Here's a picture of a very cute, handsome strawberry. I wanted one of his sister but by this point she was tired, hungry and irritable.



I just had to add this after I went back and looked at last years pictures. What a coincidence!!! Cute!! Too Funny!!!


Also here is a clip that we took of the kids playing with the animals. Sorry it's kinda long and it will take a while to upload but watch it if you want. Either way, go pickin' and enjoy 'em!!!